POPE'S DEATH AND CATHOLICISM'S PROSPECTS IN RUSSIA

Center for Defense Information ^ | 04-05-2005 | Pyotr Romanov

[sergey1973]

PING.

[OldFriend]

Putin was afraid to cross the Russian Orthodox Church in his country. He was unwilling to invite the Pope to Russia.

[NYer]

"For centuries Russia has been in contact with Catholicism. Individual Catholics came to Russia as traders or diplomats. Larger groups of Catholics migrated from Russia and Poland or were deported from the Western parts of the Soviet Union, which were traditionally Catholic, to other parts which were traditionally Orthodox or Muslim. "
The Catholic Church in Russia

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[lizol]

Thanks, but it was already posted.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1377143/posts

[Bombardier]

It isn't right for Christians to distrust each other. John Paul was a good man and wanted the best for ALL Christians, Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. I feel very bad that the good Russian Orthodox people couldn't have a chance to see this man in person.

[sergey1973]

Thanks NYer. My primary sadness is that he really wanted to visit Russia and he could not because of hostility from Moscow Patriarchate (which is largely Kremlin Extension). Current official Russian Orthodox Church is still dominated by former Soviet Era approved Priests.

In Soviet Union, contrary to popular opinion, religion was not completely banned. Soviet Authorities allowed Russian Orthodox Church to function if the authorities could control it. There is also Russian Orthodox Church abroad that broke from Moscow Patriarchate in 1920's after Moscow Patriarchate proclaimed it's loyalty to Bolshevik Regime. Practically every major delegation from Orthodox Churches not under current Moscow Patriarchate are attending Pope's Funeral. I.e. Orthodox Church in America (that takes its roots from Russian Settlers in Alaska as well as other previously ethnic denominations) is sending it's high ranking priests to Vatican to attend Pope funeral.

[sergey1973]

Oops--yep the article I posted was posted already. My fault ! I took it from different site. Well--maybe FRpers want to continue discussion here or on the previous post--does not matter.

[lizol]

There are so many articles about the Pope on FR today that it's easy to miss one.

[Leo Carpathian]

Current official Russian Orthodox Church is still dominated by former Soviet Era approved Priests.

Make that: infested by KGB agents dressed as "priests" and still fighting the real priests and religion under rasPutin's "leadership".

[sergey1973]

However, even KGB or Communist party could not fully control Russian Orthodox Church. There was a Father Aleksandr Men who was murdered under mysterious circumstances in 1990. His ecumenical views were often at odds with official Orthodox Church.

[Lion in Winter]

I have no idea who you are but I find your bashing of the Russian Othodox Church very BAD!

Who are YOU to bash any Church????

[FreedomCalls]

Practically every major delegation from Orthodox Churches not under current Moscow Patriarchate are attending Pope's Funeral

The Russian Orthodox Church will be there as well. They will be sending Metropolitan Kirill, the foreign minister.

[Lion in Winter]

Just like I wrote to the other poster... Who are YOU to bash any church???

As far as infestations... certain folks on this very forum have been mentioning another church which was seemingly "infested" with a large number of child molestor clergy/priests... and another Church was "infested" with gay priests and a gay bishop.... and yet another church was "infested" with fundamentalist Christians>

Lets us ALL here on FR just give up this "invested" garbage.

The MSM just keeps bashing ALL Christians as "infestations of radical religious people" in USA and in the world.

[pgkdan]

I have no idea who you are but I find your bashing of the Russian Othodox Church very BAD!

The Russian Orthodox Church was a tool of the KGB during the Soviet era. The Communists appointed it's priests and bishops and they informed on each other and their congregations to the KGB. It's not a secret.

[sergey1973]

I'm Freeper like you and you and I can bash the Church if the behavior of the Church is totally illogical contrary to the heart and soul of Christian teaching of unity and brotherly love. Current Moscow Patriarchate came into existance in 1920's after top cleric Metropolitan Sergius in 1927 declared loyalty to Bolshevik Regime. The Russian Exiles abroad from Bolshevism in turn split from Moscow Patriarchate and created Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. You can read this history.

http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/english/pages/history/briefhistory.html

[Lion in Winter]

And, you know what... I read some Polish and Hungarian priests did the same thing.

SO WHAT???? People can be weak and afraid in the face of political danger!!People can be frail!!

The fact is communism hurt CHRISTIANS and killed hundreds of thousands, if not MILLIONS, of Christians where ever they took over. The denomination did not matter. Baptists, Orthodox, Roman Catholic... ALL suffered!!

I even read that some Priests in Germany and Croatia even COLLABORATED with NAZIS!!

SO WHAT????? Again, people can be weak and afraid in the face of political danger!!Humans can be frail!!

The gulags of Russia were filled with Orthodox priests and other members of their church. Baptists faired no better in Russia!!

I HATE TO SEE ANY CHURCH WHICH SUFFERED AS GREATLY AS ALL CHURCHES DID IN RUSSIA UNDER THE COMMIES, GET BRANDED AS TOTALLY HEINOUS CRIMINALS.

Right now in China Christians are under the gun so to speak. Their priests and ministers are arrested.

Right now in Iran a Christian minister is under arrest and faces the death penalty.

ALL AROUND THE WORLD CHRISTIANS ARE PERSECUTED.

I often wonder if Christ would like to see people who profess to be Christians casting stones at OTHER CHRISTIANS.

Just because the Pope and the Russian Patriarch had issues between them.... is no reason to dismiss the Russian Orthodox Church as evil.

In fact, GOD Himself is CONTROL and when HE deems it OK... ALL the Christian CHURCHES in the world will unite. I PRAY FOR SUCH A DAY!!!! AMEN!!

THAT IS HIS DECISION. Not mine, not yours, not a Protestant's, not a Pope's or a Patriarch's decison.

I trust GOD to do what HE wants!!

I pray for a strong Russian Orthodox Church and a Strong Baptist Church in Russia!!

I pray that European Roman Catholics will see the light and have a revival of their faith in the face of the awful EU and its anti-Christian ways!!

[sergey1973]

Did you see also my post #11 on Father Aleksandr Men ? I really hope and pray that Russia Becomes Democratic without being radically secularized like Western Europe and Russian Orthodox Church will become a respected institution there and around the world--independent of Kremlin.

[Lion in Winter]

Sounds like just so much politics and sour grapes to me. Perhaps you all ought to forgive each other's Churches and MOVE ON to do God's work on this planet.

Isn't FORGIVENESS WHAT CHRIST TAUGHT???

As I said before.... GOD IS IN CONTROL!!

[Lion in Winter]

I understand what you are saying. However, I have seen, FOR MANY, MANY years...people a my own Baptist church getting mad as wet hens about something that was said or done by our Preacher.

IT was NEVER about theology... it was always about something "political".

And it never gets settled because it is political. The offended folks move to a new congregation... and that is the end of it.

Forgiveness seems to be an unheard of commodity.